Stabilized metallic soaps



Patented Nov. 28, 1950 STABILIZED METALLIC SOAPS Howard Packer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Witco Chemical Company, a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application September 9, 1947, Serial No. 773,083

2 Claims.

This invention relates to stabilized heavy metal salts or soaps.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 692,- 135, filed August 21, 1946 (now abandoned).

Heavy metal soaps have long been known as driers for paints and varnishes. These soaps, however, are somewhat unstable in that they have a tendency to partially precipitate out of solution on storage. I have found that certain compounds may be suitably employed as stabilizing agents with the primary purpose of maintaining these soaps in solution. The preferred stabilizers are ethyl lactate, amyl lactate, dibutyl tartrate and diethyl tartrate.

The heavy metals normally included in driers are iron, lead, manganese and cobalt. Zinc is likewise sometimes included.

The metal soaps may be those of the common aliphatic acids such as stearic, palmitic, lauric, linolenic, an oleic, naphthenic acid, rosin oil acids, rosin acids, or tall oil acids. The soap should be soluble in the customary solvents, such as mineral spirits, naphtha, xylene, benzene, toluene, Stoddards solvent and the like.

It has been found that preferred stabilizing agents When added to the heavy metallic soaps react to form a complex metallic compound. This compound is of a nature as yet unknown. The amount of stabilizer used may be from 1 to 3% by weight based on the final drier solution when one-half of the solution is solvent, and from 2 to 6% for the solvent free drier soaps; for example, 6% cobalt in the form of cobalt naphthenate may be dissolved in mineral spirits and 2 to 3% of dibutyl tartrate added. This mixture is then heated to 250 to 300 F. with stirring for from 5 to minutes. The recommended amount of the tartrates is 2% based on the drier solution for stabilizing the solution; the recommended amount of the lactates is 3%. These proportions must be doubled when the solvent free drier soaps are manufactured.

In preparing the solutions there are preferably used from about 40 to 90% by weight of the metal soap or soaps, 2 to 3% of the stabilizing agent, and the remainder a solvent.

'pounds of a solution of cobalt naphthenate in Stoddards solvent was prepared by the commonly used method of interacting aqueous solutions of sodium naphthenate and cobalt sulfate, and dissolving the cobalt naphthenate product in the solvent. Suflicient solvent was added to reduce the cobalt concentration of the solution to about 6%. The resulting solution was heated to 250 F. in a kettle and agitated mechanically. 16 pounds of dibutyl tartrate was added to the kettle. Agitation was continued for five minutes and then the heating was stopped. The stabilized drier solution was filtered and run into drums.

Having described my invention, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A composition of matter consisting essentially of a water insoluble drier soap of a heavy metal containing from 2 to 6% by weight of said soap of dibutyl tartrate, a stabilizing agent.

2. A composition of matter consisting essentially of a non-polar solvent, 40 to 90% by weight of said composition of a water insoluble drier soap of a heavy metal, and 2 to 3% by weight of said composition, of dibutyl tartrate, a stabilizing agent.

HOWARD PACKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

2. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A NON-POLAR SOLVENT, 40 TO 90% BY WEIGHT OF SAID COMPOSITION OF A WATER INSOLUBLE DRIER SOAP OF A HEAVY METAL, AND 2 TO 3% BY WEIGHT OF SAID COMPOSITION, OF DIBUTYL TARTRATE, A STABILIZING AGENT. 